Morsi Rejects the Authority of His Court

Egypt's ousted president has rejected the authority of the court that is due to try him next week.

By Elad Benari

First Publish: 10/29/2013, 4:45 AM

Mohammed Morsi

AFP photo

Egypt's ousted president Mohammed Morsi has rejected the authority of the court that is due to try him next week for incitement to murder, his supporters said Monday, according to AFP.

Morsi, an Islamist hailing from the Muslim Brotherhood who was Egypt's first freely elected leader, was ousted by the military on July 3 amid massive protests against his year-long rule.

He is due to stand trial with 14 others on November 4 for incitement to murder in connection with deadly clashes between his supporters and opponents outside the presidential palace in December 2012.

"No lawyers will be defending president Mohammed Morsi, neither Egyptians nor foreigners, because the president does not recognize the trial or any action and processes that result from the coup," the Anti-Coup Alliance, led by the Muslim Brotherhood, said in a statement quoted by AFP.

The group said a team of Egyptian lawyers would be attending the trial with Morsi, but only "to observe proceedings, not to defend him."

It said its statement was prompted by false reports in pro-military media outlets saying the Muslim Brotherhood had appointed lawyers from Turkey and Qatar to represent Morsi.

The group called on international human rights activists and lawyers to attend the trial to see firsthand "the trampling of justice."

The Anti-Coup Alliance has called for mass protests on the day of the trial, raising fears of further violence in the deeply polarized country.

Morsi himself has been held incommunicado in military custody since his ouster, but his family recently declared he would not enter any negotiations or accept any compromises following a crackdown on the Muslim Brotherhood.

The arrests have not deterred Morsi's supporters from organizing demonstrations, which have deteriorated into deadly street fights pitting them against opponents and security forces.